U.S. considers Viet Nam as one of its priority partners in Indo-Pacific: Secretary of State Blinken

The meeting took place on November 14 on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Lima, Peru.

Blinken expected that both sides will continue effective implementation of commitments, agreements, and cooperation programs, voicing his support for a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Viet Nam.

Bui, for his part, affirmed that Viet Nam considers the U.S. as a partner of strategic importance and hopes to work with the U.S. to realize the comprehensive strategic partnership framework towards an intensive, effective and sustainable manner.

He expressed sincere gratitude to the U.S. Secretary of State for his contributions to advancing the bilateral relationship in recent times.

Both sides agreed to continue promoting close coordination within the framework of multilateral forums and international organizations, including the United Nations, APEC, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms.

During the meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi on the same day, Bui underscored that Viet Nam regards Japan as a reliable, important, and long-term partner.

Viet Nam advocates Japan to play an increasingly active role and make contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world, noted the Vietnamese official.

Takeshi spoke highly of Viet Nam's role and position in the region and the world, affirming that Japan's new administration will continue to consider Viet Nam as an important partner in implementing its policies towards the region.

He suggested that both sides bolster collaboration across all fields, particularly in trade and investment, and work together to accelerate the progress of several key economic projects.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive development of the bilateral relations and affirmed their commitment to strengthening close cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, contributing to promoting Viet Nam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership more intensively and effectively.

At the meeting with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Winston Peter, Bui asserted that Viet Nam always treasures and expects to promote its strategic partnership with New Zealand.

He recommended that both sides foster stronger ties in areas such as trade, agriculture, education, maritime cooperation, high technology, and climate change response.

As the coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations during 2024-2027, Viet Nam will actively accelerate the implementation of substantive cooperation programs between ASEAN and New Zealand, stated the Vietnamese official.

Peters stressed that New Zealand prioritizes enhancing cooperation with the Southeast Asian region, considering Viet Nam one of its key partners in the area.

He expressed his wish to deepen the bilateral relations in various fields and strengthen collaboration in addressing regional and global issues.

They vowed to join hands in organizing all-level delegation exchanges and contacts, heading to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties by 2025.

During the meeting with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Bui confirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to the comprehensive partnership with Canada.

Recently, the two countries' senior leaders have maintained regular contacts via flexible means, such as letter exchanges, phone conversations, and high-level meetings at multilateral conferences, and most recently, the meeting between General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 19th La Francophonie Summit in Paris, France, in recent October.

He suggested both sides should continue to increase all-level delegation exchanges, improve the effectiveness of existing bilateral dialogue mechanisms, and take advantages of opportunities for economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

Bui took the occasion to express sincere gratitude to Canada for providing CAD560,000 to assist Viet Nam in overcoming the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.

Joly, for her part, held that Canada values its relationship with Viet Nam and will continue to promote the comprehensive partnership in priority areas, especially in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, defense-security, education-training, and people-to-people exchanges.

Canada will also continue supporting Viet Nam's participation in the United Nations peacekeeping forces, she said.

Both sides pledged to bolster trade and investment cooperation, effectively leverage the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), uphold international law, advocate for multilateralism, and support each other at multilateral forums where both are members, particularly within the frameworks of the United Nations, ASEAN, and APEC./.